Washing machine



March 12, 1929.

A. GRAYDON WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1921 m 6%- of O Q 3Sheets-Sheet 2 a moon wto p- March 12, 1929. 'GRAYDQN- 1,705,361

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Jlerazzder652;.2201? Patented Mar. 12, 1929. 4 UNITED STATES ATENT oFFlc-E".

may. GRAYDON, or sex r'amcrsoo, cniroam wasrmre moms.

, Application fled October 18, 1821. Serial No. M598.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines of the typedisclosed in my Patent No. 1,437,514, granted December 5,1922- An objectof the present invention is to mission of washing fluid into the tub andan overflow drain for the removal of suds and dirt by flushing the tubwithout opening the main drain line;

Other objects of the invention reside in the more specific and detailedfeatures of construction which will later be described in connectionwith the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of themachine, Fig. 2 is an elevation view, 7 i Fig. 3 is a fragmentarysectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicates,generally, the machine casing which is divided by an intermediatehorizontal partition 11 into an upper compartment or tub 12 and a lowercompartment 13 containing the operating mechanism.

That portion of the casing 10 which forms the compartment 13, is formedwith perforations 10" which afl'ord proper ventilation for the operatingmechanism and motor positioned within this compartment. The operatingmechanism is located in a housing or casing 14 supported within themachine casing, as by screws 15 passing through the partition into theadjacent housing wall: The operating mechanism may der ve its power fromany suitable source, such as an electric motor 16 supported on aplatform 17 extending laterally from the housing, and the mechanism ispreferably controlled by j a gear shifting switch or controlling lever18 operable from the exterior of the machine casing. The constructionand arrangement of the operating mechanism form no part of-the presentinvention. As will be observed, the operatin mechanism is entirelyenclosed by the hous 14, and the latter is connected with the casing ofthe machine by means of screws 15; when the screws 15 are removed theoperatin mechanism will drop.

Within ,the tub 12 is rotatably mounted a false tub 19, preferablyprovided with perforated walls to permit the admission of washing fluidthereinto. The false tub has extending upwardly therethroug h from theoperating mechanism housing a reciprocable and rotatable shaft 20,adapted to be reciprocated and rotated by the mechanism within thehousin 14. The shaft 20 extends through a bearing s eeve 21 having abottom flange 21' through which pass securing screws 22 connecting thesleeve to the operating mechanism casing. The sleeve has, at its upperend,

a stufling box 23 closed by a cap 24 which serves to prevent the leakageof washing fluid into the operating mechanism housing; and the sleeve isinclosed by a second sleeve 25 bolted at its lower end by screws 26 tothe false tub bottom and to a supportin collar 27 surrounding the sleeve21. The col ar 27 is rotatably mounted upon bearings 28, preferably ofthe ball type, seated within a raceway 29 formed in the top of theoperating mechanism housing, and is held against upward movementlongitudinally of the sleeve 21 by means of a lock washer 30 surroundingthe sleeve 21. The above described mounting for the false tub allowsrotation of the tub with a minimum of friction, and at the same timefacilitates removal of the tub from the casing 10, it bein necessarysimply to remove the screws 26 an the outer sleeve 25 in order towithdraw the tub from the casing.

The construction above described serves to prevent washing fluid fromseeping into the housing for the operating mechanism. However, shouldwater leak into the housing the same will naturally gravitate to thebottom of the housing, from which it may be revalve controlled fitting14" which is at the normal level of the lubricant in the housing.

By operating the valve 14" an water which has seeped into the housing ansettled to the bottom may be removed, since the entrance of the water tothe housing raises the lubricant level, and consequently the level ofthe lubricant being above the plane of the valve 14, water is forced outof the housing through the drain pipe simply by opening the valve. Thisfeature insures a long life for the-gears of the operating mechanism,since all washing fluid which tends to thin the lubricant ma beremoved.

pon the shaft 20 is mounted a suction plunger 31 which is preferably ofsubstantially the same diameter asv the false tub. The plunger ismounted upon a sleeve 31' slidable longitudinally of the shaft 20, andis held upon the sleeve by a lock washer 32. The sleeve is adjustablelongitudinally of the shaft and is provided with a locking pin'33adapted to pass through spaced openings 34 in the shaft with which thetransverse opening 35 in the collar may be aligned, the desirableadjustment of the plunger along the shaft being dependent upon theamount of clothes within the tub. Manifestly, if the tub issubstantially filled with clothes to be washed, it will be necessary toplace the plunger at a higher point along the shaft in order to obtainthe desired forcing and suction effects than if but a few articles ofclothing are to be washed.

It is desirable to prevent relative rotation of the tub 19 and thesuction plunger when the tub is rotated to dry the clothes, it having 1been found that there is a tendency for the clothes to become wrappedaround the plunger and shaft and to be torn when such relative rotationtakes place. I have found that a preferable construction consists inplacing a cover upon the false tub and rotatably securing the cover tothe shaft so that the tub may be rotated from the shaft through such acover. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the tub 19 isshown as provided with a cover 36 having a depending marginal flange 37fitting within the tub and frictionally engaging the wall of the latter.The cover is secured to a collar 38 having a reduced portion 38' whichrotatably fits within a sleeve 40 upon the machine casing cover 10. Thecollar 38 is held upon the machine cover by a lock nut 41 threaded uponits end and abutting the end of the sleeve 40.

The collar 38 has a key 42 fitting into a keyway 43 extendingalong theshaft 20. and, obviously, rotation of the shaft 20 by the operatingmechanism will result in a rotation of the false tub 19 through itscover 36. In order to prevent the escape of the washing fluid and sudsfrom the tub through the central opening in the cover 10 during thereciprocation of the shaft and plunger, a cap 44 may be threaded uponthe sleeve 40 and such suds as work upwardly through the collar 38lubricate the upper bearing of the shaft 20. As will be observed, thecollar 38 and cap 44 serve to unite the false tub cover 36 and easingcover 10 so that the two covers may be removed as a unit.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means foradmitting the washing fluid into the tub 12 without splashing, and forthis purpose the tub is provided, upon its exterior (Fig. 2), with afitting 45 having external nipples 46, 47 to which hot and cold watersupply lines may be connected. The admission of washing fluid iscontrolled by valves 48 which, when opened, permit the fluid to passthrough an inlet passage 49 which, it will be observed, is curved in alateral direction to direct the water in at an angle substantiallytangential to the wall of the false tub 19.. The inflowing stream offluid is thus directed around the tub and the force of the same does notstrike directlyagainst .the wall of the tub. This arrangement permitsthe admission of washing fluid without splashing, and with everyinconsiderable resistance to the inflowing stream.

A drain port 51 at the bottom of the tub permits the draining of thewashing fluid from the tub after the washing when it is desired to dry.the clothes by rotation of the false tub '19, this port being controlledby a valve 52 which is normally'closed and must be opened when the tubis to be drained. However, it is desirable to rinse the clothes beforeentirely draining the tub in order that the suds and dirt may bethoroughly removed from the clothes and tub, and for this purpose I haveprovided an overflow device which will permit the opening of the inletports for either hot or cold water, or both, and the ad mission ofwashing fluid without openin the drain port valve, thereby permittingthe ooding of the machine and the removal of all suds, grease and dirtbefore the drying operation. The valve fitting 52 has a by-pass 53 whichcommunicates, upon the interior of the tub, with an upwardly extendingdrain passage 54 having an inlet 55 considerably above the bottom of thetub. When the clothes are to be rinsed, preferably before the operationof the plunger is stopped, 'it is simply necessary to flood the tub byopening the inlet valves 48, and when the water rises above the by-passinlet 55 the overflow will drain through the passage 54 and by-pass 53.After the rinsing operation is completed the drain port controlling cock52 may be opened in order to entirely drain the washing fluid from thetub before setting up rotation of the tub in order to dry the clothes.As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 4 the drain port fitting mayhave a branch 58 in which is positioned a water gauge 57 extendingupwardly through a guide eye 59 in the inlet valve fitting.

It is sometimes found necessary to heat the water within the tub to ahigher temperature than the water admitted through the hot water inletsupply line, and for this purpose the drain valve fitting and the inletfitting may each be provided with an additional port 60 normally closedby a plug 61. When the water Within the tub is to be heated a heatingcoil may be connected at one end to the drain valve fitting at the port,60 and at the other end to the corresponding port in the inletfittingthus making a thermo-siphon to heat the water.

The operation of this machine will be obvious from the above descriptionand to q'ne skilled in the art, it being understood that the operatingmechanism within the housing 14 is adjusted by the control arm 18, afterthe tub 12 has been filled with clothes and washing fluid, toreciprocate the shaft and its suc tion plunger 31. After this operationhas been performed the clothes are thoroughly rinsed to remove the dirtand suds by opening the inlet valves 48 while at the same timemaintaining the drain valve 52 closed. This floods the tub and washesthe soap and dirt through the over-flow by-pass 54. S bsequent to therinsing operatlon the rain valve is opened to remove the water fro m thefalse tub and thereupon the operating'mechanism is shifted to producerotation of the shaft 20 and the false tub, which will thoroughly drythe clothes.

It should be understood that the above detailed disclosure is merelyillustrative of the invention and in no sense restrictive thereof,numerous modifications being possible within the scope of mechanicalskill and the following claims.

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub rotatablymounted in said tub, a rotatable shaft extending through said tuband-having a key-way therein, a re movable cover having an openingadapted to be fixedly secured upon said false tub to rotate the latter,the shaft extending through said opening in said cover, a collar on saidcover at said opening through which the shaft extends, a key within saidcollar fitting into the keyway in said shaft, the shaft beingreciprocable through said opening, agitating means on said shaft andoperating mechanism positioned beneath the said tubs for said shaft.

2. In a washin machine, the combinationof a tub, a false tu rotatablymounted in said tub, a rotatable shaft extending through said tubs, aremovable cover adapted to be fixedly secured upon said false tub torotate the latter, the cover having an opening through which the shaftextends, means for establishing a connection between the shaft and coverfor rotating the latter by the shaft, the shaft being reciprocablethrough said opening, agitating means on said shaft, operating mechanismpositioned beneath the said tubs for said shaft, a cover for said firstmentioned tub connected to said false tub cover, the latter cover beingrotatable relative to the other cover, and the two covers being togetherremovable as a unit.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub rotatablymounted in said tub; a cover for said first mentioned tub, a cover forsaid false tub rotatably connected to the first mentioned cover andremovable therewith, a flange on said false tub cover adapted tofrictionally engage the wall of said false tub to insure rotation of thelatter with its cover, a reciprocable and rotatable shaft extendingthrough said false tub and operatively connected with the cover thereofto rotate the cover, agitating means on said shaft, operating means forsaid shaft positioned below the tub, and means connecting said false tubcover with the shaft permitting reciprocation of the shaft independentlyof the cover.

4. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub rotatablymounted in said tub, a cover for said first mentioned tub,

a cover for said false tub, a flange on said false tub cover rotatablyconnecting the same with the tub to insure rotation of the tub with itscover, a reciprocable and rotatable shaft in said false tub, agitatingmeans on said shaft, operating means for said shaft below the tub, andmeans for connecting the shaft to said false tub cover adapted to insurerotation of the cover through said shaft but permitting reciprocation ofthe shaft relatively to the cover and tub.

5. In a washing machine, the combination of a casing having a horizontalpartition therein forming a tub thereabove and an operating mechanismcompartment therebelow, operating mechanism in said compartment, a falsetub rotatably mounted above said partition, a vertically reciprocablerotatable shaft extending upwardly through said partition and saidfalse-tub, agitating means on said shaft, a removable cover for saidfalse tub secured to the false tub to rotate the latter, said shaftextending through an opening in the cover, a collar on said cover havinga key fitting into a keyway on said shaft, a cover for said casingmounted on said collar, the collar and false tub cover being rotatablerelatively to said casing cover, and a stationary cap on said casingcover conceal'fig the collar and shaft.

In testimo y whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALEXANDER GRAYDON.

